| Understanding how different lighting affects an image | | | | person's eyes. |
| is half the work of creating better photos. This article | | | | Diffused light |
| aims to give a brief overview of the different types of | | | | Diffused light is non directional light, where the intensity |
| light you might encounter as a photographer and how | | | | of light is even; for example, an overcast day. This light |
| to use them to your advantage. | | | | is fantastic for portrait photography as it creates little |
| Direct light | | | | or no shadow on a person's face. This is quite |
| Looking through the family photo album the other day, I | | | | flattering to most people. For the same reason, |
| noticed a recurring theme; photo after photo of us | | | | diffused light is also useful in macro, or close up |
| squinting into the sun looking like ghosts with our flat, | | | | photography. The evenness of light allows you to |
| white faces and dark holes where our eyes should | | | | capture detail in your subject that might otherwise be |
| have been. This is one of the most common mistakes | | | | lost to overblown highlights or deep shadows if taken |
| people make when taking photos in direct sunlight. By | | | | in direct sunlight. There are some instances where this |
| standing with your back to the sun, you effectively | | | | kind of lighting can be detrimental to a picture. For |
| flatten out the light and therefore your subject. All of | | | | instance, landscape photography. Taking a picture of |
| those interesting lines and textures disappear and you | | | | an expansive scene with a flat grey sky and dull |
| are left with a one dimensional image. If you are | | | | colors through the landscape is just plain unappealing. |
| shooting a portrait, you force your subject to look | | | | For these instances some sunlight is preferable to |
| directly into the sun. This makes it difficult for them not | | | | create some interest in the sky and contours of the |
| to squint or contort their face into all sorts of | | | | land. |
| unappealing shapes. If you are shooting in the middle of | | | | Different lighting conditions are useful for different |
| the day, when the sun is high, the shape of their brows | | | | situations and different types of photography. The |
| can also create dark shadows over their eyes, | | | | thing to remember is that we cannot alter the weather, |
| effectively removing the most effective feature in a | | | | but we can alter our approach to taking pictures to |
| portrait. | | | | cooperate with it. Be prepared for all situations and |
| This kind of light does have its advantages, especially | | | | have a couple of different ideas when you go out. If |
| early morning and late afternoon when the sun is low | | | | you want to take family portraits and find the light too |
| in the sky. The light tends to be more golden and can | | | | harsh, find a tree or shaded setting to work in. Be |
| cast a warm glow over subjects and create some | | | | inventive. Be adaptable. Experiment. Walk around your |
| amazing colours. It is for this reason that landscape | | | | subjects to get an idea of how the light changes at |
| photographers like to shoot at these times of day. It is | | | | different angles. No matter the lighting conditions there |
| also quite flattering for people as the need to squint is | | | | is always a way to use them to your advantage. You |
| less and late afternoon light has a way of highlighting a | | | | just need to find it. |